Enfield Farmers Market Returning July 15

Vinnie Cianfarani of Vinnie's Little Acre in Windsor Locks, seen here at last year's market, is one of many returning vendors to this year's Enfield Community and Farmers Market.

Vinnie Cianfarani of Vinnie's Little Acre in Windsor Locks, seen here at last year's market, is one of many returning vendors to this year's Enfield Community and Farmers Market. (Patrick Raycraft, The Hartford Courant)

Enfield's community and farmers market will return for another season on July 14

ENFIELD - The Enfield Community and Farmers Market is returning to the Thompsonville part of town on July 15 for its second year.

And just like last year, it will cost nothing for vendors to sell their wares each Wednesday from 4 to 8 p.m.

"We just felt like it was really important in our first year to make it free so we could gather interest," said Courtney Hendricson, assistant town manager of development services. "We didn't want to change that because it worked so well."

Last year the market averaged between 30 and 40 vendors each week, an amount Hendricson said was perfect.

The market will once again be held on North Main Street near Freshwater Pond.

"It was critical for us to have it in that location," Hendricson said. "We're putting physical improvements in that area. We wanted to engage the residents and business. I felt it was very successful. On market days we saw more foot traffic, more excitement and a lot more families."

The only difference with this year's market is that it's starting later in the season than last year. In 2014, the market opened on June 25. This year's won't open until mid-July, but for good reasons, Hendricson said.

"The vendors, mostly farmers, said they don't have the kind of produce in mid-June that they have in July," Hendricson said. "We want to make it worth everyone's while. We took vendor input and made some tweaks based on that. We want to make it the best it can be."

Hendricson said there were conversations within the town over the winter to move the market to the weekend, but it's not a feasible option right now for a few reasons.

The market is fully staffed with town employees, which would be more difficult to make happen on weekends. And Hendricson also brought up the notion of competition with local weekend markets.

"We don't want to compete and we don't want to lose vendors," Hendricson said. "It's difficult to manage a regular weekend event. It's not to say we would never consider that, but we have a good thing going and we want to keep it successful."

Requests were also made about the possibility of starting a winter version of the market. Hendricson said all the discussion about the market proves its success.

"That shows you the success," Hendricson said. "Everyone grabbed onto the success which was so cool. [A winter market] is not something we are going to take on yet, but the interest is based completely on the success. That was exciting to hear that as a request."

Also in the realm of success is the fact that the event has what Hendricson called its first premiere community corporate sponsor in the form of MassMutual. The company is making a donation that will allow the town to increase advertising, among other things.

Many of the same vendors from last year's market will be returning this year, Hendricson said, with many already signed up for the season.

Anyone who wishes to become a vendor can do so by visiting the Enfield town website, enfield-ct.gov, and visiting the economic development page.